chant
Americannoun
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a short, simple melody, especially one characterized by single notes to which an indefinite number of syllables are intoned, used in singing psalms, canticles, etc., in church services.
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a psalm, canticle, or the like, chanted or for chanting.
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the singing or intoning of all or portions of a liturgical service.
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any monotonous song.
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a song; singing.
the chant of a bird.
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a monotonous intonation of the voice in speaking.
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a phrase, slogan, or the like, repeated rhythmically and insistently, as by a crowd.
verb (used with object)
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to sing to a chant, or in the manner of a chant, especially in a church service.
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to sing.
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to celebrate in song.
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to repeat (a phrase, slogan, etc.) rhythmically and insistently.
verb (used without object)
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to sing.
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to utter a chant.
noun
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a simple song or melody
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a short simple melody in which several words or syllables are assigned to one note, as in the recitation of psalms
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a psalm or canticle performed by using such a melody
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a rhythmic or repetitious slogan, usually spoken or sung, as by sports supporters, etc
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monotonous or singsong intonation in speech
verb
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to sing or recite (a psalm, prayer, etc) as a chant
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to intone (a slogan) rhythmically or repetitiously
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to speak or say monotonously as if intoning a chant
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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chantsimple
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chantssimple
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have chantedperfect
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has chantedperfect
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am chantingprogressive
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are chantingprogressive
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is chantingprogressive
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have been chantingperfect progressive
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has been chantingperfect progressive
Past
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chantedsimple
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had chantedperfect
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was chantingprogressive
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were chantingprogressive
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had been chantingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of chant
First recorded in 1350–1400; (verb) Middle English chanten, from Middle French chanter, from Latin cantāre, frequentative of canere “to sing”; (noun) from French chant, from Latin cantus; see canto
Explanation
A chant is a type of song with a repetitive, monotonous structure. It’s also something sports fans love to do. At the Olympics, some Americans chant, “USA! USA! USA!” In addition to being something fans like to yell together, a chant is a traditional form in a lot of religious music. There are Catholic chants, Hindu chants, Jewish chants, and the list goes on. Because of this type of music, “to chant” means “to repeat something in a monotone or repetitive way.” Chants have no harmony or instruments, only a simple rhythm and a lot of repetition.
Vocabulary lists containing chant
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"It's coming homes" cheers the Daily Mirror, using the football chant to mark Andy Burnham's "massive drive in building of council houses".
From BBC • Jun. 30, 2026
When Mr. Jeffries appeared on a cable-TV screen during one of the DSA victory parties last week, the crowd began to chant “you’re next.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 28, 2026
For days, the chant echoed across New York City.
From Salon • Jun. 14, 2026
It was inspired by the popular Moroccan football chant, which means "go, go", and she hopes it can become a global rallying call for all the teams in the tournament.
From BBC • Jun. 12, 2026
But when she got up to put away her tray, someone picked up the chant again, though not with quite the same zeal.
From "Nine, Ten: A September 11 Story" by Nora Raleigh Baskin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
